Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

I will be sharing time with colleagues.

It is clear that the cost of sending children school is rising and pushing more and more parents into significant financial hardship. Budget 2026 has failed to deliver the investment and vision which our education system so desperately needs. The Irish League of Credit Unions has reported that the cost of sending children back to school this year has increased since last year. It says that the costs often reach up to €1,560 for secondary school students and €1,450 for primary school students, increases of €154 and €364, respectively. These costs are putting extreme pressure on families who are already struggling with the spiralling cost-of-living crisis. Some 27% of secondary and 14% of primary school parents say they have had to use savings while 15% and 8% respectively had to take out a loan or borrow from family or friends to cover the cost of so-called voluntary contributions.

Schools have been left short in terms of an increase in the capitation grant called for by teachers' unions. I am sure the Minister of State is aware that the cost of insurance, heating and energy and the day-to-day running costs of schools across the State have increased significantly. The insufficient increase in capitation funding will leave schools struggling to keep up with their bills. There is no doubt that parents will be relied on to try to make up the difference, to try to subsidise what is supposed to be a free education system. The Catholic Primary School Management Association has warned that parents will face a hike in voluntary contributions to plug funding shortfalls. It estimates that €54 million would be needed from so-called voluntary contributions to subsidise so-called free education.

Parents also face new expenses for digital devices. The Minister of State will be aware that one in four secondary schools have moved to using digital devices rather than traditional textbooks. One digital device costs an average of €430 per child. Some parents who cannot afford to pay for the device up-front then pay what the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has dubbed a poverty premium as instalment payments can add up to a higher price. This is pushing those struggling most with their finances into greater debt. Like Terry Pratchett's boots, it is expensive to be poor. To add to this, this year the Government has decided to reintroduce the State exam fee, leaving parents with yet another expense.

In this context of ever-increasing cost to families, we bring forward the Education (Affordable School Uniforms) Bill for Second Stage debate this evening. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission says that restrictive school uniform policies are stifling competition and driving up costs. In short, it says the Minister's 2017 circular is not working. Our Bill would address this. It would mandate all schools to adopt a cost-conscious uniform policy ensuring clear labelling of optional versus mandatory items to prevent unnecessary spending; multiple retail options for uniforms allowing parents to shop around for best value; minimal use of expensive branded items such as embroidered tracksuits to avoid excluding students from activities; stability in uniform policies so items can be reused or passed down to siblings; support for second-hand uniforms through swaps or sales; and compassionate enforcement of uniform rules where financial hardship is suspected.

Barnardos, the Irish League of Credit Unions, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and others say costs for parents are increasing and that specific new measures are needed to help them. This legislation will be a good step on that road and the Minister should support it.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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We all see it every year: the proud photos of our little ones in their school uniforms standing tall and smiling on the first day back. Those bright faces fill our social media feeds but what the photos do not show are the stress, the struggle and the sacrifice of the parents or guardians behind the camera, the sleepless nights worrying about how to afford it all. For far too many families, 54% of them, going to school is not a joyful occasion; it is a financial burden. Some are forced to cut back on essentials, even food, just to make sure their child has a uniform or a pair of shoes that fit. This is shameful in a so-called modern state.

Uniform costs alone are spiralling. Hundreds of schools have a uniform policy that requires crested uniforms often with only one supplier meaning parents have no choice but to pay whatever price is set. We all know how fast children grow.

Jumpers shrink, jackets get lost and the bills keep piling up. On top of that are the so-called voluntary contributions, estimated at over €54 million this year, forced on parents because this Government has failed to properly fund our schools. One parent of a child in a secondary school has paid €272 so far this year for mocks fees, study blocks, lockers and career outings, and that is only by the start of November. This is before uniforms or digital devices are taken into account.

Inequalities keep growing. The Government’s plan for leaving certificate reform risks creating a system where well-funded schools pull further ahead while other schools, starved of investment, fall behind. Even the so-called hot-meals scheme is a postcode lottery. Parents in Clare are calling it a scheme of frustration with poor-quality food. Some schools in Clare are unable to afford even the electricity to heat the meals, and others are unable to access the scheme at all due to procurement and supply issues. Therefore, once again families are left to fork out for packed lunches on the back of empty promises.

Teachers’ unions and parents have been clear: schools need proper funding and increased capitation grants. However, this Government has not listened. Budget 2026 once again fails our parents, our teachers and our schools. When will we see the day when back-to-school photos show not just the smiles of children but also the relief of parents who no longer have to struggle or sacrifice to give their kids a fair start? Let us make that day come sooner rather than later. Let us end the yearly cycle of stress and financial strain. I urge the Minister to support this Bill, stand with children, parents and schools, and support families.

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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Gabhaim buíochas le mo chomhghleacaí, an Teachta Darren O'Rourke, as an reachtaíocht thábhachtach seo a chur chun cinn.

Families right across south Kildare are at the pin of their collar. Week after week, my office receives emails from people who have to choose between heating and food. Scores of working families across the county are at risk of homelessness from rising housing costs because of new Government legislation. Costs keep rising, yet the Government decided to make families even worse off in this year’s budget. On top of rip-off electricity, insurance, food shopping and medical costs, school-related costs represent just one more area where families are being fleeced. Eighty percent of schools ask for voluntary contributions. Many schools are forced to pass the cost of facilities on to parents due to inadequate capitation. Families increasingly have to pay out for digital devices. According to the Irish League of Credit Unions, back-to-school spending is €364 more expensive this year than last year for primary school and €169 for secondary school.

Uniforms remain a huge cost for families. We know that certain schools still have uniform policies that require several crested and embroidered pieces, not only on the jumpers, pants and polo shirts but sometimes even on sports clothes and rain jackets. Frequently, a sole local provider has a monopoly over these, and this drives up the price. Schools also need to be directed not to change their uniform policies unnecessarily – a measure that would help to keep costs down over time.

We also need to consider second-hand schemes and have centralised guidance and support for such initiatives, as provided for in this Bill. Ireland is the second-largest producer of textile waste in Europe after Belgium. We consume 53 kg of textiles per capita per annum, according to www.changeclothes.org, which is more than double the EU average. We have a serious problem with consumption patterns and waste management systems in this country, and there is no doubt that school uniforms represent a chunk of that problem. Anyone with children will know they often need a new uniform every year, sometimes twice in a year, which leads you to wonder what happens to the outgrown uniforms of children who do not have siblings to hand them down to or who simply cannot pass them down due to crests. Chances are they are not recycled. I see real opportunity under this Bill for the Government and schools to take leadership on this issue and allow schools to institute a sustainable model and a mini-circular economy and mindset at community level.

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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People across the State have faced successive years of profound financial hardship. In recent years, families have faced significant increases in the cost of the weekly shop, excessive increases in the costs of necessary utilities such as electricity and gas, increases in rent, and – every August – the high cost of returning children to school, with school uniforms being one of the biggest costs. The cost of a uniform is not just once off; it is yearly for most families. Children, particularly teenagers, grow out of their uniforms each summer, requiring further investment by parents.

The Irish League of Credit Unions has noted that compared to 2024, costs have increased by €364 for primary students and €169 for secondary students. Generally, students wear the uniform four days a week and a school-labelled tracksuit once a week, so parents must buy a tracksuit, at least two school jumpers, two school shirts and two pairs of pants or skirts.

A constituent I spoke to who has one child in secondary school in Limerick outlined the amount he had to spend on school uniforms this August. The school opted this year to redesign the school tracksuit, adding more cost for parents. The father I spoke to advised that he had purchased two school uniforms at €31 each and one school tie at €8. He opted to purchase school shirts and grey trousers but not from the recommended provider. He paid €50 for a school tracksuit top and an additional €36 for the school-labelled tracksuit pants. He advised he spent nearly €200 on school attire this year. He remarked that he was fortunate to have only one child in the school at the moment, but that child is a growing teenaged boy, so next year, if this Bill is not introduced, the family will face the same costs again. With the cost of everything in the State spiralling out of control, this is just not sustainable for working families anymore. Parents face high uniform costs and not long after their children return to school, they face the so-called voluntary contribution that schools seek. I do not blame the schools for this; they are cash-strapped themselves.

I was also contacted this morning by a parent of a child who attends primary school in Sixmilebridge, County Clare. The school, she advised, is holding a fundraiser not for anything new and shiny but just to afford day-to-day costs. Parents are worried. Fifty percent of them say they are worried about back-to-school costs, with many relying on loans or savings to purchase essentials. Our Bill provides that only iron-on or sewn-on crests should be required for school attire and that the monopoly in the supply of school uniforms should be ended, allowing parents to purchase required clothing from an expanded number of clothes shops.

The Government has failed to address the funding crisis across schools. It did not increase the capitation grant by €75, as recommended by unions and other stakeholders, but by just €50. The burden falls on cash-strapped parents to make up the difference. I ask all Members to support our Bill and provide some alleviation to those families struggling to meet ever-rising school costs.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: Dáil Éireann:

notes that the Government:

— recognises that the cost of preparing children for school each September can be a cause of financial difficulty and worry for many Irish families;

— is committed to ensuring that schools will adopt measures to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs in line with Programme for Government Commitments; and

— has commenced work to review Circular 32/2017 which sets out the measures to be adopted by schools to reduce the costs of school uniforms and other costs as noted in Education Plan 2025, and this includes:

— the establishment of a working group, which includes representatives from the National Parents Council and from the education partners;

— planned engagement with parents as well as with children and young people to obtain their views; and

— work to promote uniform swap shops in all primary schools, thereby making uniforms more affordable and supporting sustainability, as committed to in the Programme for Government;

recognises that while decisions on school uniforms are a matter for individual schools and Boards of Management, Circular 32/2017 already sets out the principles of cost-effective practice to be adopted by schools to reduce the cost of returning to school, including:

— schools are advised that they should select school uniform items which are generic and can be purchased from a range of retailers;

— only 'iron on' or 'sew on' crests should be used;

— schools should provide parents with a list of all required items and indicate the likely costs of these required items at best value stores;

— where an exclusive supply arrangement applies, it should be tendered for regularly; and

— schools should also consult with parents as to their views on how to reduce costs;

further recognises that the Government has introduced a number of measures to alleviate the costs associated for schools including:

— €170 million allocated to provide free schoolbooks for some 940,000 children and young people enrolled in schools in the Free Education Scheme, from the start of the 25/26 school year;

— €39 million secured in Budget 2026 towards increased capitation funding for primary, post-primary and special schools to provide additional financial support towards their running costs;

— over €69 million of additional funding allocated to school transport services as part of Budget 2026, and this is to provide for the additional demand for pupils with special educational needs on school transport services and increased bus contractor running costs; and

— additional funding of €58 million allocated under cost-of-living measures to the School Transport Scheme, to allow for continued reduced transport fees in 2025;

further notes that the Government is progressing the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill, which will strengthen engagement between schools, parents and students, including on issues such as school costs and uniform policies; and

accordingly declines to give the Education (Affordable School Uniforms) Bill 2025 a second reading.

I thank Sinn Féin, including Deputy O’Rourke, for introducing this Bill. The Deputy’s motivation is clear and sincere and shows genuine concern for families facing the very real costs that come with the new school year. I share that concern. I am aware that for many parents, the start of the new school year can be financially stressful, with new uniform and transport costs arriving all at once. This is why the Government has made affordability a central focus of our education policy. However, I cannot accept this particular Bill today. This decision is not about rejecting its intent; it is about recognising that we are already taking significant, evidence-based steps to achieve the same goals in a more comprehensive and sustainable way.

As colleagues will know, school uniform policy has traditionally been a matter for each board of management, reflecting local needs and traditions. However, since the publication of Circular 0032/2017, the Department of education has made clear that schools should take steps to ensure uniforms are affordable and accessible to all families. The circular sets out clear and practical guidelines for schools: uniform items should be generic and available from a range of retailers, not tied to just one supplier; iron-on or sewn-on crests should be used instead of embroidered ones; parents should receive a full list of required items and their likely costs at the best-value stores; exclusive supply arrangements must be subject to regular tendering; and schools should consult parents on how best to reduce costs. These measures aim to make a real difference but we recognise that more can be done. That is why a working group, including representatives from the National Parents Council and education partners, is reviewing Circular 0032/2017 to strengthen and update it. The group will engage directly with parents, children and young people to ensure the voices of those most affected are heard.

We are also commencing work to promote uniform swap shops across primary schools, helping families to save money while contributing to our wider sustainability goals. This is in line with our commitment in the programme for Government.

The central piece of our education policy is that the school always needs to engage openly with parents and students to listen as well as to inform them. That is the principle at the heart of the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill, which is progressing through the Oireachtas and expected to go to Committee Stage before the end of this year. When enacted, this legislation will require every school to consult parents and students on key policy issues and activities. It also sets clear expectations with regard to communications, transparency and respect between schools, parents and students. It will ensure that families are genuine partners in decisions about their children’s education, including how schools manage costs. This is a collaborative approach rooted in trust and responsibility which will achieve far more than issuing a set of prescriptive guidelines.

In respect of broader Government measures to reduce costs, uniforms are one part of the cost burden families face. This is why the Government’s strategy is comprehensively tackling the full range of expenses that come with schooling. This year marks an historical milestone in Irish education policy. From September 2025, all students in the free education scheme, consisting of almost 1 million students and young people, will receive free books and core classroom resources. This represents an investment of over €170 million and a full delivery of the programme for Government commitment to provide free school books for every child. Schools will manage the provision directly, ensuring resources are used effectively and sustainably. This is one of the most significant steps taken to remove cost barriers in the Irish education system.

In the context of capitation funding, we have also taken major steps to support schools with their running costs. In budget 2026, the Department of education secured €39 million to increase capitation funding, giving schools greater flexibility to cover running costs and reducing reliance on parental contributions. This includes an increase of €50 per pupil in primary school and €20 per pupil in post-primary school. There are additional supports for DEIS and special schools as well. Over the past three budgets, capitation funding has increased by nearly 50% at primary level and 28% at post-primary level. This is a significant uplift in capitation funding.

We also maintain our commitment to affordable and accessible school transport. The school transport scheme, which Bus Éireann operates on behalf of the Department of education, has expanded significantly over the past six years. The number of children and young people using the service has grown from under 120,000 pupils in 2018 to over 178,000 pupils in 2025, which equates to an increase of close to 50%. Of those 178,000 pupils, over 100,000 mainstream pupils who are eligible for transport are facilitated, as well as more than 49,000 pupils who are receiving concessionary tickets. In addition, in excess of 23,000 pupils are travelling on dedicated school transport services for children with additional needs and more than 5,500 pupils from Ukraine are also facilitated on these services.

Investment in the school transport scheme has more than doubled from €200 million in 2018 to €512 million in 2024. This investment is extremely welcome as the scheme and associated costs continue to grow. Deputies will be aware that there have been many discussions on school transport here, at the committee on education and in the Upper House. We are committed to ensuring a further expansion of services in the years to come. In budget 2026, there is an extra €69 million to meet demand, especially for students with additional needs, and to offset rising operational costs.

The Department of Social Protection issues a back to school clothing and footwear allowance. Payments totalling €47.5 million to over 126,000 families in respect of over 221,000 children were issued in July 2025. These payments were issued automatically to eligible families who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments. Families who do not receive the payment automatically can apply directly to the Department of Social Protection. The allowance supports eligible families with the cost of school uniforms and footwear ahead of the upcoming school year. It provides €160 per child aged between four to 11 and €285 per child aged 12 years and over in second level education. Eligibility for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance was extended in 2025 to include foster care families. The total budget allocated to the scheme for 2025 amounted to €54.4 million.

This is a Government that acts on the evidence, in partnership with the education community, students, parents and education partners. I thank Deputy O’Rourke and Sinn Féin for raising and keeping this issue to the fore. Their concerns reflect the concerns of families right across the country and I share those concerns deeply. We are working with schools, parents and students, not around them. I believe the path we are on, through sustainable investment, ongoing collaboration and legislative reform, is the right one. While I cannot accept the Bill, I want to be clear that my Department is working hard to deliver on the Bill’s core intent in a way that is coherent, system wide and enduring. Our aim is simply that no family in Ireland should ever struggle to meet the costs of sending their child to school.

The review of Circular 0032/2017, the enactment of the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill and our measures to provide free schoolbooks, increased capitation for schools and ongoing investment in school transport all form part of a coherent, evidence-based strategy to make education genuinely affordable for all. For that reason, I am asking the House to decline to give this Bill a Second Reading, but I do so while affirming my Department’s total commitment to tackling back to school costs and supporting families in every community in Ireland.

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to start by saying that I am a strong supporter of schools having uniforms. It takes a lot of pressure off families and it keeps the fashion shows and the competition out of schools. It is a leveller. Every time parents are asked about school uniforms, survey results always say they support a uniform. We are in a cost-of-living crisis and everything is getting more expensive, however. Every September, parents are worrying about the cost of getting their kids back to school. They are using their savings and, in some cases, they are borrowing to ensure costs are covered.

In some schools, we have a situation where there is no competition when it comes to a parent buying a school uniform. We all know the story. Parents get a letter from the school telling them that the uniforms have to come from a specific shop and that no other brand or version is acceptable. That is the case for secondary school uniforms in particular. Parents with a daughter – I am speaking for myself in this instance – have to buy a skirt, blouses, jumpers, PE tracksuit and school coats, which are all branded. This costs big money. The Minister of State will understand that these costs add up for parents who have two or three children in that school. That is before we even talk about schools where students need iPads or tablets.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, looked at this earlier in the year and found that three quarters of schools had branded items that could only be bought from a recommended retailer. The Minister of State and I know that leads to higher costs. A simple way to reduce costs for parents is through giving them more choice when it comes to buying school uniforms. We need to switch to generic jumpers and make iron-on or sew-on crests the norm. Back in 2017, the then Minister issued a circular addressing some of these issues, looking for iron-on crests and generic items, etc. I am absolutely surprised to say that the Minister of State is not supporting the Bill that actually details what was said in 2017. Here we are seven years on and nothing has changed and there is still a massive cost on parents buying school uniforms. This Bill we are debating is very clear. Schools needs to have it written down. It needs to be a proper policy.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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The report of the Barnardos 2025 back to school survey indicated that the average price of uniforms was €126 for a primary school uniform and €119 for a secondary school uniform.

Many parents have just paid out for these uniforms, but they are facing additional costs as well in January. Children grow and play and a lot of the time, these uniforms have to be replaced. That is an additional cost.

I know parents who have had to go to the credit union to get loans to send their kids back to school. They had to borrow money off family or friends to get their kids back to school. I know parents who have had to go to money lenders to get money to get their kids back to school because things are so tight now with this current cost-of-living crisis that every penny or euro counts for the vast majority of people. Think of the parents who are living in overcrowded emergency accommodation. How are they going to wash uniforms? I raise the pressure that is being put on them to get their kids out the door every morning in the proper attire. There are some shops with a monopoly. Parents are paying out vast sums of money when they should have more choice. There should be more flexibility. It should be easy for people to buy uniforms for their children, not putting a barrier of costs in the way. What we are looking to do is to support parents, families and children.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission recognises that there is a monopoly and it is costing parents money. Barnardos found that 54% of parents were worried about the cost of their children going back to school. At the same time, schools are worried about their heating bills. Parents are paying out for everything, for example, school transport and iPads that are not being covered by the Government. That was an easy way to take pressure off parents. We are coming forward with solutions for people. The Government should be backing us. We should be working together here. Why does it always put barriers in place when we are trying to support ordinary people?

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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Hear, hear.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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Every year, families across the State face a financial cliff when the school term begins. Parents are being forced into debt. They are dipping into savings and turning to credit unions just to send their children to school. As we have just heard, they are going to money lenders, unscrupulous ones at that, and getting themselves into huge unsustainable debts. One of the biggest drivers of these costs is school uniforms. In Waterford, parents are telling me the same story each August and September. They are stretched to breaking point. In many schools, families have no real choice when it comes to uniforms. Branded or crested clothing is required, extended even to PE wear and jackets. That includes primary school, driving costs up year after year. This Bill is about tackling that head on. The Bill will place an obligation on the Minister for education to make regulations ensuring every school has an affordable uniform policy, one that recognises the financial pressures facing families. It is about fairness, choice and common sense.

The Irish League of Credit Unions has found that the total back-to-school spend this year rose by €360 for primary, and €170 for secondary students. More than half of parents have gone into debt to meet these costs. It is not just uniforms; it is books, digital devices, transport and the voluntary contributions that are anything but voluntary. I have spoken to parents in my constituency clinics this year who are paying hundreds of euro for a single digital device because their child's school has moved away from textbooks. Families with two or three children simply cannot keep up. Others are paying for fuel or taxis because they are excluded from the school transport scheme - a scheme that is supposed to ensure equal access to education but instead leaves rural families in particular footing the bill for long commutes.

For families of children with disabilities or additional educational needs, these costs are multiplied. Between therapy appointments, sensory equipment and specialist materials, they are already carrying a heavier load. School costs should never add to that burden. All of this is happening against the backdrop of a deepening cost-of-living crisis. Groceries, rent, energy, fuel - everything is going up, while wages and supports fail to keep pace. Families are being pushed to the limit and the Government's response has been piecemeal and reactive. It is the same story in every part of the State. People are working hard and doing their best but are struggling to stay afloat.

Schools are feeling that same pressure. They are being asked to do more with less, to fundraise for basic materials, to rely on voluntary contributions to keep the lights on, to keep toilet paper in the toilets because the so-called increases in capitation funding announced in budget 2026 will not take effect until January. Teachers and principals have been very clear. They have been clear with us, and I have no doubt they have been clear with the Government. They need proper funding now, not next year. Tonight's Bill is a modest but meaningful step. It will not solve every problem, but it will make a real difference to families and parents who are struggling. It would ensure schools adopt uniform policies that are affordable and accessible, policies that treat parents with fairness and respect. Families in Waterford and across the State do not need a Government press release about free education. What they need are decisions that actually lower costs, take the pressure off the kitchen table and make schooling genuinely affordable for all families. The Minister of State indicated the Government will not be supporting this Bill, but supporting it would be a really good place to start.

Ann Graves (Dublin Fingal East, Sinn Fein)
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We are all aware that families are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. Between spiralling rents, mortgages, energy, food and fuel, the list of ever-increasing bills is growing longer and longer. Each bill puts further pressure and stress on working families. When it comes to their children's education, parents are being forced into more debt in order to cover back-to-school costs. Barnardos carried out a back-to-school report, noting that 54% of parents are worried about costs, as families dip into savings where they have some, get loans and apply household budget cutbacks to pay for uniforms. The Irish League of Credit Unions report highlights that there is a 5% increase on last year in families that are sacrificing food in order to cover costs. That is an absolute disgrace.

I have seen the effects of these bills on families. In my own constituency, a family with both parents working, but with mortgage, food and fuel costs, is still struggling to pay their bills. The added cost of a uniform is even more pressure. When asked about the cost of uniforms, the Minister for education said it was up to schools to offer crests parents could buy and then buy the uniform separately. This is not practical or workable. PE gear adds to the bills. The polo shirt costs €15 when crested, yet a parent can buy a three-pack with no crest for about €8 - the same colour as what the school demands but it just has no crest on it. A mother told me:

... we did have to buy 2 crested t-shirts at a total cost of €30 and in winter my son will wear the cheaper one when there's no fear he has to take his tracksuit top off. The school jacket which is not even heavy is another €39 as its crested. It's just a rip off. I hope your party eventually takes power and you might listen to the ordinary person who works, pays taxes and are then fleeced.

These are the words of ordinary working families. A lone parent is being crippled by back to school costs. She wants to know why the Government does not introduce regulations that will ensure uniforms are standardised and made affordable. Sinn Féin has introduced legislation to place an obligation on the Minister for Education and Youth to introduce regulations governing the implementation of an affordable school uniform policy in school. This is what people want; a Government that is on their side, that cares for working families and will give a helping hand when people need it.

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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I thank Sinn Féin for putting this Bill forward. The Labour Party is very happy to support it. For many years, the Labour Party has championed the serious effect that back-to-school costs are placing on families across the country and the serious need to implement concrete support measures. Every family is affected by this, not just the chosen few. However, we stand and debate another topic that has a significant effect on our most vulnerable people in our society. This year's budget is another missed opportunity to show real ambition for Ireland's teachers, children and school communities. It is not enough to make token gestures while ignoring the major issues at the heart of our education system. This is one of those major issues. We should not be in a situation where parents are forced to take out loans, apply for supplementary welfare allowance or for their children to go without. The reality is this is what is happening. These families do not want their sympathy or empathy; they want fair and transparent access to everything that others in our society have.

This Bill leads towards the very basic things that children in this country should have access to - school uniforms. I recognise the role and the pride that schools take in their school uniforms. They are part and parcel of the history and of the fabric of each and every school community. Every parent wants to see their child, no matter how young or old, in their school uniform. I think of my own grandmother's house. There are pictures of all of her children and grandchildren on her wall. Apart from only a few, nearly every picture shows each child in their school uniform.

This is no coincidence. The school uniform is an essential element of school life and has been for many generations in this country. However, with this, we must be progressive in our views on school uniforms. In 2017, the Department of education issued guidelines to schools to reduce uniform costs by encouraging the use of generic uniforms with sew-on crests. Implementation, however, has been inconsistent, with many schools insisting on expensive and branded uniforms. When schools mandate crested or branded items of uniform from exclusive suppliers, costs increase further, thereby undermining the principle of equitable access to education. That is the fundamental issue. We talk about education being the great leveller. How can that be if mothers or fathers cannot afford to go out and purchase a branded jumper or shirt for their children? Where is the equity in that? Where does the great leveller come in there? It does not.

We must see a culture change back to second-hand uniforms. That will only be made possible by interventions from the Government. Many people will tell you that it was once the norm. Pieces of uniform, be they school ties or jumpers, were passed down a generation. Unfortunately, it does not happen any more. We must see that culture change.

The back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance is a payment to help families with the cost of school uniforms and shoes. However, the payment is not universal but is means-tested. I speak for all families when speaking on this topic. No family should be put before a means test to access a payment to help with the very basic, in this instance school uniforms and shoes. In the Labour Party mission is the provision of an inclusive and genuinely free-of-charge system of State-run education. To be totally frank, we can say we created free primary and second level education in this country all we want, but when you step back and analyse it, have we actually? We still have voluntary contributions that are not that voluntary. We have exorbitant school uniform costs. Schools now ask children to have €500 laptops and tablet devices. Many schools are begging parents to partake in fundraisers every year, placing another burden on parents. However, this is not the school's fault because it is often the case that these fundraisers go towards funding for essential day-to-day running costs, new school equipment or even jerseys for their sports teams.

I welcome recent increases in primary school capitation grants and the roll-out of the school meals programme. However, as I said, if you take one step away and analyse this free primary and second level education system, nobody here can say it is free. Education is our greatest tool for creating a more equal and prosperous Ireland and costs should not be a barrier to any child reaching his or her potential. We must ensure that every child has a fair start and we must cut costs for parents by making education genuinely free. That includes the costs I mentioned previously, including the universal back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance and a ban on voluntary contributions. We must also continue working towards increasing our capitation grants not just at primary level but also at post-primary level.

Parents are doing everything they can to give their children the best start in life but they are being failed by a system that continues, as I said, to demand voluntary contributions, to charge for uniforms and exam papers and, increasingly, as has been mentioned, to require expensive digital devices, such as tablets and iPads. This is not free education. Making the clothing and footwear allowance universal would come at a cost of €250 million to the State. It would include €260 for four- to 11-year-olds and €385 for those aged between 12 and 22 years.

Issues such as these are the fundamental issues that create a stigma within our schools. We must ensure we reduce any cause, or get rid of any cause or possible cause, of bullying within any of our school environments. However, we must be real with ourselves. We have all been in schools. The children without are often the ones targeted. School uniforms should not be another target placed on a child's back.

As was mentioned previously, data from the Irish League of Credit Unions revealed in August that parents are now spending over €1,450 per primary pupil and €1,560 for those in secondary school. One in three families are being forced into debt to cope with the financial burden. It is absolutely unacceptable that 35% of parents say they have had to deny their child at least one essential item. This is not just about cost. It is about fairness and dignity for children. No child should be left behind because their family cannot afford the basics.

Along with this, there are other clear actions that the Government could introduce. We could permanently abolish exam fees and we could make school transport free for everyone with a €27 million investment. We could ban voluntary contributions and increase capitation grants by a further 20%. We could also ensure that home economics students get the same ingredients support that exists for woodwork and metalwork. Education should be a right, not a burden. The Labour Party's proposals are constantly practical, costed and achievable.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul's regional co-ordinator in Cork, Mr. Cormac O'Sullivan, said that back-to-school costs season is very busy for them. He said:

We’ve seen an increase in calls in the last [number of weeks], and it’s only going to get busier now as we get through August. SVP has been advocating for the last 15 years for free schoolbooks, so it’s great that this year both secondary and primary schools are both receiving free books. However, we're seeing an increase in people looking for help to buy technology, laptops and tablets. The books are free but now many schools are expecting students to have devices, which is quite a big expense for parents. It's not mandatory to have them, but there's an expectance there, and kids don't want to be the only one in a class without one. We've also seen an increase in people looking for help to buy uniforms. The back-to-school allowance is there, but it's not enough to cover everything. Those are the two main expenses, but SVP is conscious that the school year doesn't stop in September. There are costs associated throughout the year, and we'll get a lot of calls for assistance on those too.

Those additional costs include voluntary contributions and school trips. Mr. O'Sullivan went on to say:

For the [transition year] students, there's big pressure on parents to be able to fund overseas trips. We're asking schools to put in place a suitable alternative for people who just can't afford that.

Barnardos in August published the results of its back-to-school survey, which showed that 50% of primary and 60% of secondary school parents were worried about meeting costs this year. Some 27% of secondary and 14% of primary school parents across Ireland said they have used savings to meet back-to-school costs, while 15% of secondary and 8% of primary school parents said that they have taken a loan out or borrowed from family or friends.

The Zurich cost of education 2025 survey, based on information from 1,900 respondents, put the estimated cost of sending a child to primary school at €1,442, an increase of €30 on last year's report, and a lifetime cost of €12,920. That is our free education system.

In August, I read about back-to-school costs for one parent, Ms Claire O'Rourke, who lives in Glasnevin in Dublin. I read about her in The Irish Times. She came up with a figure of about €800 per month for four children. That figure applies every month during the school year. In her article, she included that one of her daughters' schools favoured iPads over schoolbooks. They had to be bought from a particular supplier at a cost of €604. When speaking about school uniforms, she referenced the new PE kit the school has introduced. It cost €117.50 for one child. She went on to speak about exam fees, extracurricular activities, voluntary contributions, school transport and school lunches. These are all what we would consider basic and part and parcel of free education.

Every year, parents contact public representatives about the costs associated with going back to school. One parent told me in August that they would not pay gas or electricity bills in August but would borrow, take out a loan and use instalments to get as much as they can for back-to-school items. They said they would go into debt until March the following year before it was all paid back and the situation would repeat again in August. They said they are worried about whether they can keep it up, year after year.

These are real-life examples. They are particular examples from associations such as Barnardos and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which are constantly advocating for and meeting families who are coming to them for help. No family should be going into debt, skipping meals or turning off the heating or lighting to cover basic needs such as school uniforms. No child should have to go through the plight of not knowing whether they will have every piece of school uniform every year. I am extremely disappointed. I would normally work with the Department on this, but I am extremely disappointed that the Department has not taken this Bill on board. It is legislation we could all have worked on together. It is disappointing. For the end of my speech, I have written, "I urge you to support this motion." However, there is no point in saying that now because the disappointment is there now. It is felt in the pocket of the people who have to pay for their children to go back to school every year.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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I welcome the Sinn Féin Bill and thank that party's Members for their work on it. The use of school uniforms is often debated by parents, patrons and researchers. Some people love uniforms and others do not.

The Social Democrats support this Bill, however, if the Ceann Comhairle will indulge me, I will speak about having school uniforms in the first place. I will not take up too much time on this but Ireland is one of only three countries in Europe that has uniforms in our State schools. The other countries are the UK and Azerbaijan. Other countries may have school uniforms and it varies depending on whether they are private schools or there are particular reasons but most do not in their state schools.

I researched this issue during my doctoral work and when I worked as a youth worker and in a school completion programme. Uniforms are a huge cause of discomfort for people. The main reasons are that for children and young people with sensory issues, uniforms are often very uncomfortable and are very itchy. They are not practical for girls, in that uniforms might have very long or very short skirts and are not very practical in cold weather and for cycling. However, that is not a reason that if we do have a school uniform that it is not then affordable. I will come to that part and I am not dissing this Sinn Féin Bill at all. I am just saying that uniforms are important for people and if we have them, that is fine but there might be an alternative.

Uniforms cause a huge amount of difficulty for some students because they forget items. The Bill does deal with the fact that we have to have uniforms but there needs to be a practical understanding from schools on how to implement their policies. I often worked with young people with regard to attendance. I worked in the school completion programme where attendance was a big thing. What we would find was that a young person would eventually get to school after being suspended due to behaviour, or after a long absence, only to be told they were wearing the wrong colour shoes, the wrong tie or they forgot this or that. That is ridiculous because the child is sent home to get the proper uniform. Schools need to be practical about this. Yes, uniforms are extremely expensive. Some people might forget them but others may not have them. Where I am coming from, and this is where it speaks to Sinn Féin's Bill, some children and young people do not have the uniforms because they are just so expensive. On that basis, a family cannot afford to replace the tie. The easiest part of the school uniform to get lost is the tie. They do not know where it is. It falls down the back of the radiator or wherever but it is gone. It is expensive to replace it. I do not know why school uniforms need to have a tie in the first place but that is probably a side part of this.

School jumpers, as has been said by many, are very expensive. Students grow out of them, they lose them, they get holes in them, somebody else take them or whatever. Schools have to have a practical way of dealing with this. Having generic uniforms, if they have to have them, is so important.

Recently I had students Clogher Road Community College in. They were doing leaving certificate applied, LCA, work experience with me. I asked them to do a project on what their ideal school would be. They had a long list and one of the things they had on the list was no school uniform. They do not have a uniform in the school they go to but they were both in schools previously where they did have a uniform. They feel much better in themselves not having to wear a school uniform.

My last point on this, before I go back to the substantive part, is I know people argue that if we do not have a school uniform, it can lead to competition as to what clothes students wear. School culture is very important in this. I have been involved in multi-denominational schools for a long time and what I found was that there is no uniform in those schools but there is not that competition and the reason for that is that the students kind of have their own uniforms, which is leggings and a hoodie or jeans or tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie. They fall into what it is and there is not that big competition.

However, this Bill is about the cost of living and supporting families in a situation where it is so expensive to put their children through our free education system. As previous speakers said, this is where the problem is - it is not free. I have mentioned Circular 32/17 several times in the Dáil because I thought I might have imaged that circular came out because nothing ever seems to have happened about it. I was delighted when it came out for the kids we supported in our project. All school completion programmes and all schools working in disadvantaged areas have a bank of uniforms in case somebody forgets something. In our project, Ballymun ansoe school completion programme, we had a washing machine and dryer so we could wash uniforms. We had a stock of uniforms so we could replace them for families who could not afford to replace them themselves. We had the facility to wash and dry uniforms, if that was necessary. Sometimes if a student only has one uniform and if that uniform gets dirty on a Monday in the yard or during sport, it will be dirty for the remainder of the week because he or she does not have a second one. When a uniform is really expensive, it is hard to replace it. If they were generic, it would not be as hard to replace them. Previous speakers said that if the polo shirt is a generic that can be bought anywhere, that is great but if it is an expensive one, a family might have one or might have none.

If we have circulars and there are things set out by the Department that schools are supposed to do and they are not doing them, what is the consequence? What is the point in somebody in the Department of education writing a circular, saying this is what we want the school to do but then it does not happen? What role does the Minister of State have in making sure that happens because this Bill would not have had to have been brought forward if what was set out in the circular was being done? The circular said uniforms should be generic, practical and the costs for families should be reduced as much as possible but yet all we hear this evening is that this is not the case. We have a situation where school uniforms are expensive and families are struggling and coming to the end of August and beginning of September, they are thinking about what they will do if there is not that culture within the school to have swaps when students grow out of things. I think a lot of schools are doing that and getting used to the idea but there are schools that are not because people are contacting us asking us if this can be brought in and asking if anything can be done.

Students have to have uniforms, tablets and books. I am constantly puzzled that they have to have tablets and books. There are exam costs, voluntary contributions, which really are not voluntary in some cases, and other costs associated with going to school such as lunches. I know there are free lunches but not everybody eats the free lunches. If education was truly free, there would not be costs for any of these things.

We have one in five children living in poverty. The reality is that we have the Society of St. Vincent de Paul delivering food and we have food banks. We have families who go to different places to pick up food every single week. Uniforms are the last thing they can deal with or else uniforms are the thing they focus on because they know it is the thing that will draw attention to the student, in that they are different and are not the same as everybody else because they do not have the school uniform or the uniform is dirty. What it means is they buy the school uniform but then they do not have any other clothes because it is either-or. It sounds like we are talking about the 1980s or previous times but we are not. This is 2025 and this is happening for families.

What I and the Social Democrats are saying is that if we want to have free education in this country, which we keep saying we want to have, it will not be free as long as we have these costs that cannot be kept down to a minimum. It is so easy to do that but it needs to be policed. Not only do uniforms need to be affordable but they need to be comfortable and practical. Girls wearing shorts or shirts that are down to their ankles or up to their knees or wherever is not practical. How are they supposed to cycle? They will not cycle in a skirt that goes up to here or is down to their ankles. It is dangerous and they will not feel comfortable in it. How will a transgender child wear a uniform that is assigned to one gender or the other? There has to be flexibility in that.

In regard to having items that are compulsory and items that are not, some schools I have been involved in have had a tracksuit but the tracksuit did not have the iron on crest but rather the crest you have to buy and that is the problem because they are the expensive things.

I thank Sinn Féin for bringing this Bill forward. I echo my colleague from the Labour Party in saying I am disappointed the Government cannot see that this Bill has to be brought forward because what was already set out in that circular is not happening. When the Government implements things, it needs to follow up on them. It is really important. We are trying to make the lives of young people easier and make it easier for them to learn.

In regard to children with additional needs, uniforms need to be practical for those students as well because it is really important they are comfortable and do not have sensory overload from uniforms that are itchy or uncomfortable. I am disappointed the Government will not support this Bill. The Social Democrats will support it.

It is important that any family sending their children to school should not be going to a loan shark, a credit union, a bank or other family members to be able to just have this basic thing, which is being able to send their children to school knowing they are not going to go hungry themselves or that their children will not go hungry, or that the children would be shamed because they do not have the uniform because they cannot afford it. I thank Sinn Féin for bringing this Bill forward.

Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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I thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward this very important Bill. I fully support the Bill, which would mandate all schools to adopt a cost-conscious uniform policy. As a parent, I have seen the cost of school uniforms increase massively over the years. It used to be the case that not so long ago we would have been able to buy one or two branded items such as a school jumper or a school tie. Other items such as polo shirts, trousers or shoes could be bought at any shop if they were the right colour. This allowed multiple retail options and allowed parents to shop around for the best value, or even to shop second-hand sometimes. That option is increasingly being taken away as more and more schools introduce expensive branded shirts, track suits, bags, coats and PE gear. Uniforms are supposed to signify unity and equality but now they just mean another additional cost for families when there is a cost-of-living crisis going on. It costs between €40 to €50 for one secondary school jumper now. I have three children that were at high school in the past 18 months and I know for a fact that one jumper per child does not happen. A family is paying for multiple jumpers because they go through them and they do not last a year. It costs hundreds of euro just to put a uniform on them that has to be changed and adapted as winter comes and again as spring comes as children grow. If a family has multiple children, they are paying far more. School uniforms cost an absolute fortune for middle-income earners but for low-income earners it is an entire week's wages that comes out of that family's costs just to put a uniform on their child's back.

A circular published just eight years ago by the then Minister for Education included measures to be adopted by schools to reduce the cost of uniforms and other costs. The circular, which the school authorities were expected to adopt, included the following principles for cost-effective practices: all elements of school uniform should be part purchased from various stores; the iron-on or sew-on crest should be used; whenever possible generic rather than branded items should be specified; parents should be provided with a list of all required items along with the costs of these required items; and the schools should consult with parents on their views and suggestions on the reductions of the costs of these uniforms. The template questionnaire that would address the cost-effective practices should be sent out to parents once every three years. As a parent I have not seen that. The boards of management should review this annually. As a member of a board of management, I have never seen this. It was stated that the schools should implement this circular from September 2017 onwards. Anyone who has school-age children will know that these proposals were not introduced in most schools. In fact, schools seem to be going in the other direction. In recent years more and more schools have turned to expensive branded options under the guise of promoting equality and inclusivity. The reality is that it just causes additional stress to parents and it has resulted in the exclusion of students who in some cases have not been allowed to take part in activities without school-branded clothing. It is a ridiculous situation that students are actually being excluded as a result of a school uniform policy. It completely goes against the intentions of the uniform in the first place. Students are also subject to harsh disciplinary action when not adhering to school uniform policy. The fact is that schools themselves do not seem to be adhering to Circular 0032/2017 regarding school uniforms. One of the key proposals of the school uniform was to create a more focused educational environment and reduce distractions. It completely defeats the purpose when students are penalised for something as small as a white stripe on a pair of shoes or for their tie being tied up the wrong way. This puts focus on the appearance of students and not on their educational environment.

Because school uniform policies have changed so much over the years, in many cases items can no longer be reused or passed down to siblings. This means that parents are forced to buy brand new uniforms all over again with the expense to the family. How are parents expected to cope in a cost-of-living crisis? Back-to-school costs are astronomical. The Irish League of Credit Unions found that one in three parents now say that they get into debt covering their children's school costs when they go back to school in August and September. Over one third of parents say they are forced to deny their child at least one item when going back to school. Instead of two €50 jumpers, it is now one €50 jumper and the student has to make sure that this jumper is as good as new every single day or washed. It now costs on average €1,450 for primary school parents and €1,560 for secondary school parents to send their children to school. Families simply just cannot afford this. They are squeezed from every angle.

On top of this, for families in Donegal and across the country the defective concrete crisis is adding an unbearable cost to this desperate situation when these kids are living in crumbling homes. Their parents are trying to heat these homes and pay their mortgage. They are being squeezed to death and they cannot pay for these uniforms. Many homeowners face impossible decisions while trying to pay their mortgage. What will they do: pay the mortgage in September or put a uniform on their child's back? They are choosing to put the uniform on the child's back and then the banks have the cheek to come and chase them for their house.

Given that the 2017 circular was completely ineffective in addressing this cost of uniform,s it is clear that this Bill is needed to promptly address this issue to support struggling families. I urge the Government to support Sinn Féin's Bill and to address the increase in back-to-school costs for hundreds of thousands of families across Ireland.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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I support the Bill not because it is a radical idea, but because it is basically decent. No parent should go into debt to send a child to school or to educate their children. This Bill only exists because the Government has failed in the most fundamental of duties to make education genuinely free and fair. We have heard many times that Ministers roll out free books, free books and free books, but parents are still being hit with hidden charges. Many schools today had contacted families earlier this year telling them, or forcing them, to purchase electronic tablets costing up to €600 per child. Let us imagine being the parent hit with that charge in August and September while having the additional cost of €1,400 to €1,600 on a uniform.

On top of that we have the so-called voluntary contributions, which are anything but voluntary these days. I have met school principals the length and breath of this country who are begging parents simply to keep the lights on in their schools and to pay the insurance costs. The facts are stark. An analysis of 707 schools shows that heating costs are up 83% since 2019, water and refuse bills are up 51%, accounting and auditing costs are up 58% in schools and the cost of management systems is a staggering 199% increase. The average primary school faces a deficit of €17,000 in day-to-day running costs while the Minister of State and Ministers parade around claiming that Irish education is free. That is a falsehood. It is not free. It is a lie that is told by comfortable people to the struggling families of this nation.

We have schools that cannot pay their energy bills but the same Department seems to have an endless and bottomless pit of money available for ideology and teaching nine-year olds about transgenderism and social theories instead of maths, science and literature. That is not education; that is indoctrination. This is what the Department is doing. Parents did not vote for their children to be used as social experiments. Families in Cork, Mallow, Glanmire, Little Island, and Ballincollig want everything that we had as children growing up. They want the basics done right. They want heat in the classrooms, affordable uniforms and education that is real learning that will put their children in a place where they are available for the jobs of tomorrow. They want their taxes spent on teachers. They do not want it spent on consultants and PR campaigns about inclusivity. What they really want is nothing more than getting the basics right so their children are able to leave school, go on to third level education and secure a future in this country. The Government is drunk on the nectar of self-congratulation while ordinary parents in this country are running on empty.

The truth is the Department of education has lost touch with classrooms. It governs by press release, with parents left in the lurch and left to feel the pain over and over again. Most parents facing the summer holidays are thinking about how they will pay the bills when schools return in August and September and what other hidden charges there might be. I support the Bill not as a gesture but as a rebuke to the Government. It takes the Opposition to remind it that the Minister for Education and Youth and her Department should serve families, not lecture them.

Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
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This is smart, fair and deeply necessary legislation that puts families first. For too long, the cost of school uniforms has placed an unfair burden on parents. According to Barnardos, back-to-school costs now average €725 for primary school pupils and €1,100 for secondary school. That is not just a statistic; it is a crisis. Families are dipping into savings, taking out loans and making impossible choices just to send their children to school. The Bill is a practical response to that reality. It requires schools to keep uniforms simple and affordable, allow parents to shop around and not be tied to one expensive supplier, offer second-hand options and show compassion when families are struggling. We must stop punishing families for sending their children to school. The cost of uniforms should never be a barrier to education. The Bill puts fairness first and helps to make school more equal for every child.

We also must discuss voluntary contributions, which are, in fact, anything but voluntary for many families. Despite increased capitation funding, schools are still relying on these contributions to cover basic costs such as classroom materials, IT upgrades and extracurricular activities. Some parents are being asked for anything from €140 up to €550 per child, with 80% saying those requests do not feel optional. Schools, too, are under pressure, with the funding they receive often not stretching far enough. However, we cannot allow that gap to be filled by guilt-tripping of parents. No child should be excluded, embarrassed or disadvantaged because his or family cannot afford a voluntary payment. Capitation rates must be increased further, a code of practice should be introduced for voluntary funds and we must ensure transparency and fairness in how schools communicate with families.

Affordability in education does not stop at uniforms. I have long advocated for better support for apprenticeships and trades. We need to stop talking about trades and start investing in them. Our young people deserve real pathways to skilled work, not just promises. We in Independent Ireland believe in expanding modular training programmes, increasing SOLAS and ETB capacity regionally and offering incentives for completion, including local placement guarantees. This is especially urgent when we consider the cost-of-living crisis and the heartbreaking number of children and parents experiencing homelessness. Education should be a ladder out of poverty, not another rung that is out of reach.

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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I welcome the Bill and thank my colleagues in Sinn Féin for bringing it forward. We will support the Bill because it is about simplicity. The more simple we keep uniforms and the whole back-to-school experience, the cheaper it will become for families. In Mayo, as throughout the country, families are struggling. September brings significant financial fear due to all the costs associated with going back to school, including the cost of uniforms, shoes, warm coats, schoolbooks and, increasingly, IT equipment. I spoke to a family recently who spent almost €1,500 on a tablet for their child entering first year. That is an incredible amount for this family to have to find. It is a very challenging situation for parents. School transport is another big factor. Likewise, the not so voluntary school contribution is causing great difficulty for families. It is causing difficulty for principals as well as they are forced, in effect, into becoming debt collectors. It is totally unacceptable.

The back to school clothing and footwear allowance is welcome and positive. However, it appears the Minister is rejecting this Bill on the basis of citing that provision. This is totally unacceptable. The allowance often gets diverted into food, heating and all those other costs. The Bill reduces the cost of going back to school. Who could be against such a measure? In some cases, parents are told they must, for example, buy a branded jumper, shirt and skirt. The branded nature of such clothing, which may include embroidery, means it may be double the cost of non-branded items. A jumper that might cost €20 instead costs €60 or €70, which is totally unreasonable and unfair.

The Bill is a positive measure. Clear labelling, for instance, is a positive measure. Often, students will come home and tell their parents they need a particular jumper. It is a good thing to ensure parents know what is mandatory and what is optional. Minimal use of branded items is another positive measure. Crested jumpers are typically more expensive than non-crested ones. Reducing the exclusive nature of uniforms will allow a greater number of providers and suppliers into the marketplace. I spoke to many families last September who were, in effect, forced to purchase uniforms from one or two suppliers. Competition is a good thing. The Bill will promote competition in the market and reduce costs for struggling families.

The promotion of the second-hand clothing option is a wonderful measure. Ireland is second highest in Europe for textile waste, with, on average, 53 kg of textile waste per person. That is double the European norm. Would it not be a great thing if schools were front and centre in promoting the use of second-hand clothing, hand-me-downs and reusable items? When I lived in America a number of years ago, I found the concept of the thrift shop to be a great thing. Many of my American friends would talk about the great deals they got in a thrift store. Assisting schools to promote reusing uniforms is a positive measure. Of course, it can only really happen if we enable a greater use of generic uniforms. That is the key. Regional towns with a number of schools would see a movement of uniforms across those schools. That would be a positive development.

We will support the Bill. I am disappointed the Minister seems to be opposing what is a very simple and practical measure to reduce the cost of sending children back to school.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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I welcome this debate on an issue with which we are all very familiar, either as parents or as public representatives. Back-to-school costs are a major source of anxiety for parents every year, particularly when uniforms demanded by some schools are at the higher end of the cost scale. It was noted on First Stage that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and Barnardos have indicated that back-to-school costs average €725 for primary school and €1,000 for secondary school pupils. It is concerning that just 14% of respondents to the Barnardos survey said their school had an affordable school uniform option, while 92% said their school required crested or branded uniform items.

My concern in respect of the Bill is that unless we are very careful, we may end up producing the very situation we are trying to avoid in terms of costs.

For example, what would happen when in determining the threshold costs for a school uniform, we arrived at a cost that was more expensive than the traditional cost for any given school? While a standardised series of costs may end up reducing expenses for some parents, it may actually increase expenses for other parents.

We need to be very careful about how we approach this issue. That being said, I will support the Bill because as the issues arise, I know we will have the opportunity to amend on Committee Stage, if necessary.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister again thanks Deputies O'Rourke, Clarke and Ó Laoghaire for bringing forward this Bill and for giving the House an opportunity to debate an issue that affects many families in the country. The Deputies' concern for affordability in education is both genuine and shared across this Chamber. We may differ on the mechanisms, but not on the principle. Every child deserves to go to school without cost being a barrier and no parent should feel financial pressure simply because they want to give their child the best start.

I recognise, as the Deputies do, that the start of each school year can bring financial strain. School-related costs tend to arrive at once and for many families, that creates real pressure. That is precisely why the Government has made affordability a cornerstone of our education policy and why we have already taken major, practical steps to address the very issues raised in this Bill. Our approach has been to implement comprehensively instead of in a piecemeal way, to support families in a sustainable way and to embed affordability across the education system. Through the review and strengthening of Circular 0032/2017, which relates to back to school costs and includes school uniform costs, we are ensuring schools adopt effective measures to make school uniforms affordable, from using generic, widely available items to promoting swap shops and removing exclusive supplier arrangements. This is a key action in the education plan 2025. Crucially, we are doing this in partnership with parents and students. The working group, established by the Department of Education and Youth to review the circular, includes representatives from the National Parents Council and other education partners. It will engage directly with families and young people to hear their views on how best to reduce the back to school costs.

The Government believes that the best policies are built with communities, not simply imposed on them. We believe that our approach acknowledges the responsibilities of all people in our children's lives, parents and school staff alike, to support the quality of their teaching and learning in schools. It also acknowledges our responsibility as a Government to support our school communities in working together in the best interests of children and young people. That is why the Minister, Deputy McEntee, intends to progress the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019, which will, for the first time, make it a statutory duty for every school to consult with parents and students on all key policies and activities, not just on school uniforms. The charter Bill aims to embed transparency and respect among all members of school communities. It will make clear that parents and students are not passive recipients of decisions but genuine partners in shaping them. The Bill will also replace section 28 of the Education Act 1998 with a new section 28. Working with other provisions of the Bill, this amendment will ensure that all schools will be required to have, and implement, standardised complaints procedures for parental complaints and complaints from pupils and students.

The charter guidelines, which will be developed in consultation with education stakeholders, will set out the details of the grievance procedures. These will focus on dealing with complaints efficiently, effectively and, insofar as possible, informally. The overall approach of the charter Bill is to move away from reacting to problems in schools after they arise to an early intervention approach that aims to improve the day-to-day experience students and their parents can expect from schools. In doing so, it is envisaged that the number of complaints in schools should reduce. We are not stopping there.

Uniforms are just one element of the overall cost of schooling. That is why our response has been, and will continue to be, comprehensive. From September of this year, every child and young person in the free education scheme - almost 1,000,000 students - will receive free school books and core classroom material. This is an investment of €170 million per year. It represents the full delivery of a major programme for Government commitment. Families will no longer be asked to buy books or pay book rental fees. Schools will handle provision directly, ensuring every euro is spent efficiently and effectively. This is one of the most significant cost reduction measures every introduced in Irish education.

We are also giving schools the means to manage their own costs more sustainably. In budget 2026, the Department of Education and Youth secured €39 million in additional capitation funding for schools. This includes an increase of €50 per pupil at primary level, an increase of €20 per student at post-primary level and enhanced supports for DEIS and special schools. These are substantial increases. Capitation funding has increased almost 50% at primary level and 28% at post-primary level over the past three budgets. This ensures schools can cover essential running costs. We have also ensured the cost of getting to school remains manageable. An extra €69 million in budget 2026 has been allocated to meet rising demand and transport costs. We have seen a particular increase in demand for school transport for pupils with special educational needs and we are delighted to be able to offer this service for free to these students.

In addition, €58 million in cost of living supports for 2025 allowed us to continue the reduced transport fees introduced in recent years for children and young people accessing the mainstream transport service. As a result, families are benefiting from the following fees in this school year: €50 per primary pupil; €75 per post-primary pupil; and a family cap of €125. These measures have made a tangible difference in easing the back-to-chool costs and ensuring access to education is not limited by geography or income. The hot school meals scheme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance. It provides free, nutritious meals to children during the school day. It helps families reduce the cost of school-related expenses while also supporting children's health and learning. The hot school meals scheme was extended to all primary schools during 2025. This means that in total, 3,200 schools and 550,000 children are now eligible for the hot school meals scheme.

The Government's position is clear and grounded in evidence. We are not opposing this Bill because we disagree with its goals; we are doing so because these goals are being achieved in a more integrated and effective way. We are addressing back to school costs at every level through updated guidance for schools and school uniforms, direct engagement with parents and students, free school books, enhanced capitation and affordable transport. We are doing so as part of a coherent policy framework that promotes equality, sustainability and fairness across our entire education system.

In closing, I again thank the Deputies for their commitment to this issue and for the constructive debate we have had. Their concern reflects the concerns of families right across Ireland and those are concerns I share deeply. However, I believe the path we are on through sustained investment, meaningful consultation and evidence-based reform is the right one. It is delivering results and it will continue to do so. The review of Circular 0032/2017, the enactment of the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019 and our broad package of cost reduction measures together form a coherent, joined-up strategy to make education genuinely affordable for all. For that reason, while I respectfully ask the House to decline to give this Bill a Second Stage reading, I do so with a firm commitment that this Government will continue to act decisively, compassionately and in partnership with parents, students and schools so that no family in Ireland will have to struggle to meet the cost of sending their children to school.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister has taken a disappointing approach. Back in 2011, I recall discussing the affordability of school uniforms in this House with Ruairi Quinn, the then Minister for Education and Skills. Unfortunately, at that time, we failed to convince him and probably more importantly, the officials at that time this was the way forward. If we cast our minds back to that period, we were in the middle of an economic crash. Families were finding it extremely difficult to try to pay for school uniforms. Despite the positive reforms that the Minister of State has outlined relating to school books etc., when I talk to them, families, and particularly poor families, are finding it almost impossible to try to pay for these school uniforms.

We all know the stories of the debt collectors and money lenders. This particular time of the year is probably the worst time for families. With Christmas coming up, this is the time when they go to the money lenders. It also happens in July and August when their children are going back to school. The debate I had with Ruairí Quinn at that time was on the cost of education. The Minister of State has outlined certain reforms that have been initiated. I do not think he is trying to tell us that it is not expensive for families to put their children through the education system. I do not think he is trying to say that here tonight. However, what we are trying to do tonight with this reform is bring a bit of reality into the room. I accept that the cost of school uniforms does not affect everyone. One of the arguments made in 2011 was that there was no demand at the time from some elements. However, some elements can actually afford to do it but others cannot. That is the point we are making. One of the speakers here tonight was talking about some of the initiatives in certain communities in relation to what is happening. The approach taken by the Minister is disappointing. It seems we have not learned from the past number of years. It is really disappointing.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North-West, Sinn Fein)
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In most primary and post-primary schools, school uniforms are mandatory. School uniform policy is generally decided by each individual school's board of management. Increasingly, the cost of uniforms has become a significant concern for many families. This proposed legislation addresses these concerns and outlines a number of ways for schools to offer more cost-effective options for parents.

While we are being critical of their cost, we accept that school uniforms can have beneficial effects. They can promote a sense of pride, self-confidence and a feeling of belonging. They can contribute positively to a student's overall well-being. There is a belief among many teachers that school uniforms can help to prevent bullying as well. School uniforms also offer a practical and convenient solution to parents because they make the decision on what to wear going to school an easy one. It eliminates socioeconomic distinctions among students and removes the possibility of students being discriminated against based on their clothing. However, the cost of a child's uniform can quickly add up, especially if they are required to have a blazer, a tracksuit and other PE gear. Most likely the school uniform will have the school crest on the blazer or jumper. The cost of school uniforms can vary between schools but the average cost for a school uniform in Ireland is around €119 for primary schools and €211 for secondary schools. Additionally, parents can also spend on average around €100 on PE items. This can prove costly if a family is struggling financially. It will definitely be a financial burden on parents who have to buy school uniforms for a number of children.

Some reports have indicated that the total spend on school uniform items can be around €300. Although the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance offers some assistance to hard-pressed families, it falls short of the actual costs the family will incur. The CCPC has made a number of recommendations to help to reduce the costs for parents. The most obvious of these recommendations, which are reflected in this Bill, involves the use of generic uniforms with iron-on or sew-on crests. The implementation of these recommendations has not been consistent. Many schools expect parents to buy branded uniforms which can only be bought at certain shops. Such non-competitive arrangements restrict choice for parents and can lead to higher prices. This Bill aims to take the stress out of buying school uniforms by giving parents a choice as to where to buy uniforms and deliver good value, especially during this cost-of-living crisis.

Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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This Bill has been proposed by my colleague, Deputy O'Rourke, and by Sinn Féin at a time when the cost of living is on everyone's lips. It is a very aptly called the Education (Affordable School Uniforms) Bill 2025. During the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the cost of school uniforms has become a huge financial burden on families. The average cost of a full school kit, including gym gear, can be up to €420 per pupil. If there are three siblings, the cost becomes €1,260.

According to the ESRI, as a result of the recent budget the overall earnings of average workers will go down by 2%. Food and grocery prices have risen by 27% between 2021 and 2025. Property tax has gone up by 23% since 2021. Fuel, home heating and electricity bills are the highest in Europe. There is a double cost attached to these uniforms because, as sure as night follows day, voluntary contributions will also have to increase. In fact, the Irish League of Credit Unions has found that almost 80% of schools rely totally on this surcharge. We know that schools throughout the country have a uniform policy that mandates parents to purchase specific design-crested uniforms, including gym wear and jackets. More often than not, the provider of these uniforms is a single entity with a sole contract cutting out any form of competition or any chance of reduction on the items, which means that uniforms will increase in cost each year.

Sinn Féin's affordable uniforms Bill would go a long way to help families and guardians to reduce the cost of school uniforms, and particularly to help large families to cope with this expense in their children's education. The Government amendment is an affront to parents and families throughout our country. The Government said eight years ago, in 2017, that it was going to review a circular and establish a working group, including representatives from the National Parents Council and educational partners. Not one thing has been done in the past eight years to alleviate the exponentially increasing cost of school uniforms. The answer is already under the Minister's nose. He should simply agree to pass Deputy O'Rourke's Bill, and stop wasting time with reviews and bogus amendments.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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I thank everyone who contributed to the debate. Deputy Mythen put his finger on it when he said that the Government amendment is an elaborate way to kill the Bill, essentially. It refers to consultation, collaboration, engagement and further review, but the substance of the issue is this: what difference is the Government's approach going to make to parents sending kids to school next September? Zero. None. It will be of no benefit to them at all. If the Government enacted the Sinn Féin legislation, it would make a real difference to the lives of people and certainly the financial position of families across the State. The Government wants to review a circular that people working in the sector have said has not made a blind bit of difference. Rather than being reviewed, it should go straight into the bin. That is the reality of it. The Government wants to throw everything into the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill. When will that Bill actually come into effect? We are talking about an extended period after that before policies are developed. The cost-of-living crisis is now. We are living through it. We want urgent action from the Government to respond to it. What we are getting instead is consultation and engagement. I do not know about the language the two Ministers of State used when they said they do not want to tell schools what to do. That is exactly what we need to do, in a collaborative way for sure. An affordable school uniform policy needs to be developed, after thinking about this in a detailed way, and needs to be put in place in black and white. That is a reasonable ask and I think it would be met with a reasonable response from schools. It would make a huge difference to families across the State next September. The approach the Ministers of State have come here with - I do not know whether it comes from themselves, from the Department or from other Ministers - is the same type of mentality that has not made a blind bit of difference up to now. It did not make a difference in 2011, as Deputy Crowe said, or in 2017 when the circular was being drafted. The CCPC, Barnardos, the Irish League of Credit Unions and all of the poverty stakeholders say that not enough is being done. The Government's response tonight is wholly inadequate.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The division is postponed until the weekly division time tomorrow evening.